The government shutdown has not had much effect on the human visitors at the Cosumnes River Preserve, but it may have a lasting impact on sandhill cranes and other birds that pass through this fall: Federal water bird counts in October were canceled. … So far, the two water bird surveys planned for October have been canceled. That means the three sandhill cranes that landed in the managed wetland on Sunday (Oct. 26) a little after noon were only counted informally this month; it also means that staff could have a harder time pinpointing when different migrating species arrived in the area. The surveys help inform water management in the park. 

Other wetlands news:

• Record Searchlight (Redding, Calif.): Pit River Tribe regains ancestral land along the Fall River